EE Preview was a ZOO today! EDIT: Sun. exp. on pg. 2

[LiteBrite]

Reporting live from the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We got in late Thursday evening. Yesterday (Friday the 27th) we were at AK for opening, and headed straight for Expedition Everest. We were asked to show our APs (or DVC membership) and a photo i.d. to enter the area. It was blocked off completely for those who didn't qualify. We grabbed fast passes for a second ride, then walked right on through the standby line.

The ride was terrific! It's very smooth, not jerky at all. Hubby has neck and back troubles that keep him from riding most coasters, but he can handle this one - yippee! The yeti is amazing.

Our fastpass was about an hour away, so we wasted some time and came back for our second, equally great ride.

Today we repeated being at AK for opening, and once again grabbed fast passes on our way into the walk-on standby line. However, by the time we were off our first ride, things had already started backing up. When we returned for our second, fast pass ride an hour later, the line at the i.d. checkpoint on the Asia side was stretching clear back over the bridge from Asia towards Dinoland. We took a chance and walked all the way around to the Dinoland entrance, where the i.d. check had no wait at all - go figure. However, once you got into the area, there was what looked to be a 30 minute wait for fast pass distribution! We took our second ride and got the heck out of Dodge. It was about 10:30 by now, and what felt like millions of people were pouring into AK. I was very glad not to be spending the whole day there. It was *much much* more crowded than Friday.

We'll be doing it again first thing tomorrow morning. It'll be interesting to see if it's as crowded again as it was today. Maybe it will be more like Friday was, which was really pleasant.

 

[S. C.]

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Sounds like you had a good strategy. 4 times in 2 days, how lucky. I can't wait for EE!

 

[DVC-Don]

A CM told us on Thursday that the local media had reported that Everest was open, but did not mention the AP & DVC restriction. She was worried the weekend would bring the day trippers looking to ride and it seems that was what happened.

 

[lovethattink]

We arrived at 10 am and the line to get into the Everest area (not the ride) was lined up almost to Flame Tree BBQ. It was unbelievable. I was there Thursday and that was nothing compared to today.

 

[mom22boys]

I should probably know this already, but when does EE officially open?

Thanks!

 

[sunking]

We rode EE four times on Thursday with no more then a 20 minute wait each time. We rode again on Friday with about a 30 minute wait. We got to AK this morning at about 10:30 for another ride and the line to have your ID checked prior to entering the area was back past the old Tarzan theater. We decided to skip it since we had already had our chance and went to MGM. Crowds at MGM were much better.

Have fun!!!
Sunking

 

[Sylvester McBean]

thanks for the heads-up. we're going to hit the park at opening tomorrow. I'm going to bed, AK is a 40 minute drive.

 

[never_enough_pooh]

Can't wait!!!

 

[sodaseller]

We got there about 10:30. No FastPass - already gone, and a 90 minute wait just to get to the area. Came back 4:40 and got on via a 30 minute wait. Great ride

 

[sunshine girl]

I was there today and was able to ride several times in the AM due to some sort of magical fastpass karma: I got there quite early and got my own fastpass, but then several other guests with whom I struck up conversation handed me fastpasses they said they weren't planning to use for some reason, so I wound up with 5 fastpasses overall!! This proves that it pays to be friendly to your fellow guests! And to smile.

Anyhow, it was a blast. I am not a screamer on rollercoasters, but this one, I couldn't control myself and screamed my way through a good portion of the ride. Wheeee!!! And it got better every ride.

 

[LordAthens]

Whats the deal with the DVC or AP restriction?

The email that a lot of people got seemed to imply that just by staying at a Disney resort you were able to get in. Granted, it doesn't say you can but;

"Since you'll be staying at a Disney Resort hotel during your upcoming Walt Disney World® vacation, we wanted you to be among the first to know about some exciting news: You've got the chance to get a special sneak 'peak' of Expedition Everest, the mountainous new attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park!"

That certainly implies you'll be eligible to ride it..

 

[BrianD]

Whats the deal with the DVC or AP restriction?

The email that a lot of people got seemed to imply that just by staying at a Disney resort you were able to get in. Granted, it doesn't say you can but;

"Since you'll be staying at a Disney Resort hotel during your upcoming Walt Disney World® vacation, we wanted you to be among the first to know about some exciting news: You've got the chance to get a special sneak 'peak' of Expedition Everest, the mountainous new attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park!"

That certainly implies you'll be eligible to ride it..

This weekend was a preview for just DVC members and AP holders. The rumor is that soft openings will likely continue after this weekend. So maybe they're going to make it exclusively for resort guests for a while or something like that.

 

[mom22boys]

This weekend was a preview for just DVC members and AP holders. The rumor is that soft openings will likely continue after this weekend. So maybe they're going to make it exclusively for resort guests for a while or something like that.

We will be staying at Pop Feb 8-13. We weren't planning on going to AK this trip, but if we could ride EE that might change our plans!!! I guess I will have to stayed glued to these boards for the latest info!!!

 

[BYC]

They reported the opening on the news here (ABC). BUT...they called it Expedition Forest! I just shook my head. Maybe one day ABC will get a news report correct...but I doubt it!

 

[wdwdavem]

They reported the opening on the news here (ABC). BUT...they called it Expedition Forest! I just shook my head. Maybe one day ABC will get a news report correct...but I doubt it!

Thats a great one, especially since Disney owns ABC.

 

[thelionqueen]

Lucky you! Let us know how it goes today.

 

[MinnieGi]

Wow, congrats to all those that got the ride EE so far!!!!

We are both AP & DVC holders and were so bummed when we found out the preview was for this weekend b/c we already had our trip planned for the second week in Jan. Oh, well. We'll be back to ride another time!

 

[Jotash]

We're going to be in WDW Feb 5 - 10 staying at AKL. I got an E-Mail the other day from Disney saying that during the time we'll be there resort guests will be allowed to ride EE. What they sent me looked like an invitation. I'm going to print it out and bring it with me just in case.

 

[QueenOfCelts]

We're going to be in WDW Feb 5 - 10 staying at AKL. I got an E-Mail the other day from Disney saying that during the time we'll be there resort guests will be allowed to ride EE. What they sent me looked like an invitation. I'm going to print it out and bring it with me just in case.

I have spoken with CRO about this as well as the switch board. You do not have to be a resort guest to ride EE during early february....it will be open for all to sneak peak.......periodically. If you go to AK during the first part of February, you MAY get to ride it, if it's operational.....if it's not, then you can't complain because it's only a "chance". They are not offering up certain dates or anything like that...it's all by chance. Also, they reason they sent that email to be people with ressies was to spread the word.